Rory heard a knock at the door.

"It's open" she called absentmindedly. She was sitting on her bed organising her things for class. Labelling notebooks, organizing notes and such, things most people would worry about five minutes before classes started, but Rory was not most people.

Ryan entered the room and sat down on the end of the bed, attempting not to disturb her piles.

"You do know actual classes don't start until next week" he stated, amused at her enthusiasm.

"I like to be prepared" Rory shot back.

"Fine, but you are coming out on Thursday, right?" he continued.

"Yes, for the fiftieth time. I know. It's the first big party of the year. I just have to go" Rory replied sarcastically.

"You do" Ryan informed her seriously, "It is our solemn duty as R.A's to make sure everyone on our floor has a good time".

"Oh, I must have missed that in the booklet" Rory sighed, getting up to grab a soda.

"Speaking of people on our floor, what's the deal with Trista?" Ryan asked slyly.

"There's no deal with Tristan, we went to high school together" replied back innocently.

"Sure", Ryan answered back sceptically.

"No really, nothing happened" Rory stated defensively, "Ok there was a tiny, tiny little thing sophomore year, it was nothing really, we had just both broken up with people and…" Rory continued before Ryan interrupted her smiling;

"So you two hooked-up"

"No we did not hook-up! It was just a mistake, and it is way, way, way in the past" Rory replied attempting to end the conversation.

"And the Mary thing?" Ryan asked ignoring Rory's discomfort at the topic.

"That's what he used to call me, you know as in Virgin Mary" Rory said somewhat embarrassed.

"Interesting" Ryan replied.

"No not interesting, just annoying", Rory stated "Can we please talk about something else".

"Fine, I didn't know it was such touchy subject".

"It's not touchy it's just…" Rory began before changing tact, "So how's Michelle?" she asked smirking.

"I get the point" Ryan said, knowing he had been beaten.

***

"You ready" Ryan asked exasperated, from the other side of the door.

"Almost" Rory called out.

She scrambled to grab a purse as Ryan began pounding on the door.

"You're such a girl" he called back.

"It'll just be another minute" She answered, taking one final look in the mirror. She flattened down her denim skirt and making sure the turquoise top she was wearing wasn't too revealing, not that any of her clothes would make Emily Gilmore blush, it was just a slightly different look then she was used too.

She didn't know what she was so worried about. It was just a party, but Ryan had been making such a big deal about this being the first big party of the semester, and whatever happened tonight would reflect on the rest of the year.

She finally made it out into the hallway and was greeted by a low whistle.

"Looking good, Gilmore" Ryan stated.

"Why thankyou" Rory replied, "You're not so bad yourself", she added taking in Ryan's, worn in to perfection jeans, grey top and ever present black cuff. She had sworn that there would need to be an operation to remove that thing

"I try" Ryan responded, smirking.

They made their way down the crowded hall, acknowledging people as they passed. Rory couldn't help but smile at how exited some of the freshman were.

"Rory" one of them, who Rory vaguely remembered being called Trisha called, "I'll see you there" she informed her excitedly.

"Sure" Rory responded, smiling, "I'll be fun" she added.

"It sure will" a voice on her right said.

Tristan was leaning against the doorframe.

'So, mind if I tag along with you guys" he asked, greeting them.

"Sure" Ryan replied, "Nice to see you again Trista".

"I'm never going to live that down, am I" Tristan smirked.

"Nope" Ryan shot back.

"Are we going or what" Rory stated impatiently.

"Not happy to see me, Mary" Tristan asked.

"I'm fine, I just want to get going" she added.

They all stepped in line and made there way out of the building.

"It feels kind of tense in here" Ryan stated, breaking the silence.

"I was feeling the same thing, I think Rory here as a problem with me" Tristan said, somewhat condescendingly.

"No, I don't. I was just wondering why you couldn't find your own friends to go with instead of harassing us" Rory replied harshly.

"I didn't know I was intruding" Tristan responded, feigning sincerity, "Was this a date?"

"No" Ryan and Rory replied at the same time.

"Ok then" he continued, "Well there were like twenty freshman girls, begging me to come with them, but you know, they're just a little young for me. Plus with all of them hanging around how was I going to find a real woman" he leered

"My heart goes out to you" Rory shot back sardonically.

"Ok will you two call a truce" Ryan pleaded, "I for one, plan to have a good time, and I don't want your little bickering match ruining my evening"

Rory and Tristan nodded in agreement.

"So Tristan, how are you finding Yale so far?" Ryan asked, as the walked across the central quad.

"Pretty good. No complaints, but I'll wait and see until classes start" Tristan replied.

"What are you majoring in" Rory asked, following Ryan's instructions and attempting to be civil. It wasn't that she had anything against Tristan personally anymore. It was just something about him that sometimes rubbed her the wrong way.

"Well Rory since you asked, Business, accounting to be exact" Tristan replied.

"Hah" Rory responded, smirking.

"And what was that for" Tristan asked.

"It's just typical" Rory replied without elaborating.

"Like you're such a mystery" Tristan replied defensively "Let me guess, Journalism to start with"

Rory said nothing.

"But that's not it, definitely a double major…Political science?" he added.

"And Tristan scores" Ryan interrupted laughing, "What are you psychic"

"More like psychotic" Rory added, laughing in spite of herself, "Fine I'm predictable too", she finished as they arrived at there destination.

The dorm that was throwing the party was all lit up. They had placed tiki torches around the front path and half of the party had seemed to spill outside.

The threesome slowly made there way towards the entrance. Once inside Tristan managed to snag a couch in one of the lounges and they settled in.

"Drinks" Ryan asked, getting up.

Tristan and Rory, nodded and Ryan made his way off in search of refreshments.

The two sat in silence awkwardly.

"So" they both said at the same time.

"You go first" Tristan volunteered,

"Ryan's right" Rory started, "It's a new year, we're both different people, why don't we try to put the past behind us and start fresh"

"I couldn't agree more" Tristan responded smiling, "Hi, I'm Tristan and you are?" he stated holding out his hand.

"Rory Gilmore" she answered politely.

"And where are you from, Miss Gilmore" Tristan asked casually.

"A little town called Stars Hollow, you probably haven't heard of it"

"Actually I'm from Hartford, which is kind of near there" he replied, feigning surprise.

"What a coincidence…" Rory began before being interrupted by Ryan returning with their drinks.

He handed Tristan a beer and Rory some kind of tropical drink with umbrellas poking out of it.

"I'm not sure what's in it, but it sure looks pretty doesn't it" he informed her.

Rory took a sip, "Pretty lethal" she shot back.

"Rory" a voice called from across the room. Rory recognised her friend Beth.

"I'll be back soon" she informed the boys making her way across the room.

***

Rory managed to catch up with many people she hadn't seen for months. It was good to find out what everyone had spent there summers doing.

"Paris" Rory exclaimed, catching sight of the familiar blond.

"Hey" Paris greeted her, less then enthused.

"I thought you weren't coming?" Rory asked confused. As of yesterday Paris had pointedly decided to give this party a miss. A decision related to certain incidents that had occurred at the same party the previous year. Events Paris was still living down.

"Well I changed my mind" she replied, "But this year, no drinking. I will be fully aware of all my actions and able to remember those of others, for future use of course" she continued.

"Okay" Rory replied unsure of how to respond.

"I'd be careful with that drink, Gilmore" she added suspiciously.

"I'm fine, so you have fun" Rory stated, keen to get away. As much as she had grown to appreciate Paris as a friend, there were times when she was just not a person you wanted to be around. And tonight seemed like one of those times.

Rory made her way for a refill and took in her surroundings. Maybe it was the tropical drink talking, or she felt like she was having a pretty great time. She glanced around the room and caught sight of Ryan talking to some of his former suite mates. He too looked like he was having fun. She was glad, although he hid it well she was sure that the break up had really hurt him. Michelle had been his first serious girl friend, from what she could tell, he had been a bit of a player before she came along. Ryan saw her staring at him and gave a little smile before turning back to the conversation. It was strange to think of him as single. He had always been off limits, but Rory was pretty sure they were too good of friends for anything to happen. He already knew her to well, there was no mystery and it would defiantly ruin the friendship.

Rory made her way outside and immediately spotted Tristan sitting on the stairs, beer in hand.

She went over and settled down next to him.

"Having fun?" she asked casually.

"Mostly" he responded, taking a sip of his drink, "But I did run into one of my ex's, and let's just say, awkward is not the word", he added sheepishly.

"Well, there's so many of them, how can they be avoided" Rory replied flippantly

"Hey, there's not that many" Tristan shot back defensively, but with a smile on his face.

"No that many? Even Madeline had a hard time keeping track of all of the girls in our class who you had gone out with, and she was an expert" Rory replied light-heartedly.

"Ok… there were a few"

"A few" Rory answered, disbelievingly.

"What do you want a list?" Tristan asked, sighing.

"Yes" Rory joked.

"That might take a few days. Do you want alphabetically or chronologically" Tristan replied, pretending to think.

Rory playfully hit him on the shoulder.

"But seriously, that was back then, believe me Military School, seriously cramped my style" he informed.

"I bet you made up for it in college" Rory shot back.

"Why did you think I had too transfer" he teased.

They sat there staring out at the party surrounding them.

"And what about you" Tristan continued.

"Me, nothing to tell really" Rory replied seriously.

"Sure, I remember a certain guy who was willing to punch my lights out to protect your honour" Tristan stated.

"Dean?" Rory replied, remembering the infamous dance.

"Bagboy himself" Tristan smirked.

"That was over a long time ago" Rory pondered thoughtfully, "And then there was Jess"

"And now" Tristan asked casually.

"Now" Rory repeated, "Now it's just me".

"What about that Ryan guy" Tristan prompted.

"Were just friends" Rory informed him "Maybe you haven't heard of that concept, you know a guy and girl just being friends".

"I vaguely recall the idea" Tristan replied.

.

"Hey there's Paris" Rory stated, as she saw their old foe wondering around the path, possibly looking for someone to blackmail.

"Hide me" Tristan said, pretending to be scared.

Paris spotted them and walked over.

"Rory, just the person I was looking for" Paris stated, "Tristan, nice to see you again" she added taking in her former crush with an air of disinterest.

Tristan waved a greeting.

"What's up?" Rory asked apprehensively.

"One of your freshman, is throwing up all over Jason Cole's bed, and lets me just say, he does not look happy" she informed her.

"Oh boy" Rory replied getting up.

She waved a goodbye to Tristan and followed Paris inside.

Tristan waved back before heading of in the other direction.

To be continued…